Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)
Google's open-source, code-first framework for multi-agent AI
Overview
Google's Agent Development Kit (ADK) is an open-source (Apache-2.0) framework for building, evaluating and deploying AI agents and multi-agent systems, with SDKs for Python, TypeScript, Go, Java and Kotlin. ADK 2.0 adds graph-based workflows in Python, Go and TypeScript. It is optimised for Gemini and Google Cloud's Agent Runtime but works with other models.
Pricing
Pricing shown for reference only. These figures reflect RECATOOLS research as of 12 Oct 2026 and may be out of date or incomplete. This is not financial or purchasing advice — always confirm the current price on the provider’s official website before making any decision.
What you can produce with Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)
- Python, TypeScript, Go, Java and Kotlin SDKs under Apache 2.0
- ADK 2.0 graph and dynamic workflow runtime (Python, Go, TypeScript)
- ADK Web dev UI and CLI
- Agent evaluation tools
- A2A protocol support and MCP tools
- Deployment to Agent Runtime (formerly Vertex AI Agent Engine), Cloud Run or GKE
- Voice and video agents through the Gemini Live API
ADK is Google's most serious agent framework: five language SDKs, a built-in ADK Web dev UI, evaluation tooling and, in ADK 2.0, a graph-based workflow runtime that gives explicit control over multi-agent orchestration in Python, Go and TypeScript.
The catch is scope. It has a real learning curve, 2.0 brought breaking changes, Java and Kotlin are still on 1.x, non-Python samples are thinner, and Google Search grounding works only with Gemini. Best for teams on Google Cloud building production multi-agent systems.
What we found
Google introduced the Agent Development Kit at Cloud Next on 9 April 2025 as an open-source, code-first framework for building agents and multi-agent systems. Eighteen months later it ships in five languages, Python, TypeScript, Go, Java and Kotlin, all under Apache 2.0, and its documentation has moved to adk.dev.
The defining change of 2026 is ADK 2.0. Its workflow runtime treats agents, tools and functions as nodes in a graph, adding deterministic routes, dynamic workflows and coordinator-and-subagent collaboration. It reached general availability for Python on 19 May, Go on 30 June and TypeScript on 21 August 2026, while Java and Kotlin remain on the 1.x line. Upgrading is not drop-in: the 2.0 notes list breaking changes to the event schema and to custom execution overrides.
InfoWorld's Martin Heller, testing the Python kit in April 2026, called it capable and mostly complete and preferred its architecture to Amazon Bedrock AgentCore's. The review's cons were few TypeScript, Go and Java examples and a significant learning curve, and it noted that the customer-service sample runs on mocked tools. Awesome Agents scored it 7.6 out of 10, praising the multi-agent design and Gemini Live API support. Both reviews predate 2.0.
Gemini is the default but not a requirement: the docs cover Claude, OpenAI, Ollama, vLLM and LiteLLM. Some built-ins are Gemini-only, though, including Google Search grounding. In February 2026 Google added about 30 partner integrations, including GitHub, GitLab, Notion, Stripe, PayPal, MongoDB, Pinecone and ElevenLabs.
The framework is free; costs arrive at deployment. Vertex AI Agent Engine has been renamed Agent Runtime, on Google's Gemini Enterprise Agent Platform, and includes 50 free vCPU-hours a month before charging $0.085 per vCPU-hour plus memory. Cloud Run and GKE bill at their normal rates.
Compiled by RECATOOLS from public sources: vendor documentation and pricing, code repositories and published reporting.
About this listing
This entry was compiled from publicly available data including Google Agent Development Kit (ADK)'s official website, press releases, documentation, and reputable third-party publications. RECATOOLS is not affiliated with Google Agent Development Kit (ADK) unless explicitly stated.
Third-party AI tools update their pricing, features, availability, and policies frequently. Information here may be outdated by the time you read this — we make reasonable efforts to keep listings current, but cannot guarantee absolute accuracy.
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